Money-handling device



Nov. 19, 1968 I e. c. ANDREAS 3,411,613

MONEY HANDLING DEVICE Filed April 25, 1967 United States Patent3,411,613 MONEY-HANDLING DEVICE Gordon C. Andreas, St. Louis, Mo.,assignor to National Rejectors, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation ofMissouri Filed Apr. 25, 1967, Ser. No. 633,628 Claims. (Cl. 194-97)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A coin-handling device has a flipper thatalternately directs coins of the same denomination into a first chuteand into a second chute; and that flipper is equipped with acounterweight which can move with that flipper but which also can moverelative to that flipper, and which can keep blows that are applied tothat coin-handling device from causing that flipper to shift intoposition to di rect coins into that second chute.

This invention relates to improvements in moneyhandling devices. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to improvements in coin-handlingdevices which requires a plurality of coins of the same denomination toactuate them.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide animproved coin-handling device which requires a plurality of coins of thesame denomination to actuate it.

A coin-handling device, which requires a plurality of coins of the samedenomination to actuate it, can have a flipper mounted adjacent a coinpassageway therein; and that flipper will normally be positioned so acoin moving along that coin passageway will be intercepted by thatflipper and be directed into a first chute. That coin will be guided bythat first chute toward a cash box or toward an escrow device in advanceof that cash box. As that coin is directed into that first chute, itcauses that flipper to shift into a position where that flipper willdirect a second coin, moving along that coin passageway, into a secondchute. That second coin will be guided by that second chute to anelectrical or mechanical actuator which will provide the desiredactuation of the coin-handling device. As that second coin is directedinto the second chute, it will cause that flipper to shift back into itsnormal position. Where a flipper-equipped coin-handling device ispermitted to operate in the manner in which it is intended to operate,it can require two coins of the same denomination to be inserted beforeit is actuated. Unfortunately, however, it has been discovered that whensharp blows are applied to certain ortions of the exteriors of vendingor other machines in which some flipper-equipped coin-handling devicesare mounted, the flippers of those devices can be caused to shift fromtheir normal positions to the positions wherein they will causethenextsucceeding coins passing through the coin passageways of thosedevices to pass to the second chutes thereof rather than to the firstchutes of those devices. Any such shifting would be very objectionable;because it would enable a patron to obtain the desired product orservice from that vending or other machine by the insertion of just onecoin rather than the intended two coins. It would be desirable toprovide a flipper for a coin-handling device which could perform thefunctions of directing a first coin into the first chute and ofdirecting a second coin into the second chute, and which could not beshifted from its normal position to its flipped position by theapplication of blows to the exterior of the vending or other machine inwhich that coin-handling device was mounted. The present inventionprovides such a flipper; and it is, therefore, an

3,411,613 Patented Nov. 19, 1968 object of the present invention toprovide a flipper for a coin-handling device which can perform thefunctions of directing a first coin into the first chute and ofdirecting a second coin into the second chute, and which cannot beshifted from its normal position to its flipped position by theapplication of blows to the exterior of the vending or other machine inwhich that coin-handling device is mounted.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention shouldbecome apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanyingdescription.

In the drawing and accompanying description a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention is shown and described but it is to be understoodthat the drawing and accompanying description are for the purpose ofillustration only and do not limit the invention and that the inventionwill be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a partially broken-away, front elevational view of a portionof a coin-handling device in which one preferred embodiment of flipperthat is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of thepresent invention is incorporated,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, through the portion ofthe coin-handling device shown in FIG. 1, and it is taken along theplane indicated by the line 22 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view through the portion of the coin-handlingdevice shown in FIG. 1, it is shown on the scale of FIG. 2, and it istaken along the plane indicated by the line 33 in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a partially broken-away, front elevational view which issimilar to that of FIG. 1, but it shows the flipper in its flippedposition,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view through the portion of the coin-handlingdevice shown in FIG. 1, it is on the scale of FIG. 2 and it is takenalong the plane indicated by the line 33 in FIG. 2, but it shows theflipper in its flipped position, and

FIG. 6 is an exploded view, on the scale of FIG. 2, of the flipperincorporated in the coin-handling device shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral 20 denotes a wall of acoin-handling device which requires a plurality of coins of the samedenomination to actuate it; and that coin-handling device can be one ofa number of coin-handling devices which are presently being marketed.One such coin-handling device is the nickel-dimequarter coin-handlingdevice made by National Rejectors, Inc. of St. Louis, Missouri. Anarcuate guiding surface 22 extends forwardly from that wall; and thatarcuate guiding surface has a downwardly-directed portion, a concaveportion, a horizontally-directed portion, and a seconddownwardly-directed portion. A horizontally-directed guiding surface 24extends forwardly from the wall 20 at a point above thehorizontally-directed portion of the arcuate guiding surface 22; andthat horizontally-directed guiding surface will coact with that arcuateguiding surface to guide nickels toward the trailing edge of thehorizontally-directed portion of that arcuate guiding surface. Thehorizontally-directed guiding surface 24 has an inclined face 26, at thetop thereof, which extends through the wall 20, as shown by FIG. 2; andthat inclined face is intended to guide dimes through an opening in thatwall. A boss 28 extends forwardly from the wall 20 adjacent theleft-hand edge of that wall; and that boss and the seconddownwardly-directed portion of the arcuate guiding surface 22 define aspace which is disposed forwardly of that wall. The wall 20 has anarcuate surface 30 extending downwardly below the bottom edge thereof,as shown particularly by FIGS. 1, 2 and 4; and that arcuate surface hasa vertically-depending flange 32 adjacent the rear edge thereof. A pivot34 extends forwardly from the forward face of the wall 20, and thatpivot is located approximately mid-way between the boss 28 and thesecond downwardly-directed portion of the arcuate guiding surface 22.

The-numeral 36 generally denotes a flipper; and that flipper has anopening 38 therein which telescopes over the pivot 34 and which confinesthat flipper for rotation about that pivot. As shown particularly byFIGS. 3, and 6, the flipper 36 has a convex-concavo rib 40 at one endthereof, has a concave-convexo rib 42 adjacent an elongated edgethereof, has a short rib 44 adjacent that elongated edge, and has asurface 46 adjacent the opposite end thereof. The rib 42 has a thickenedfree. end, as shown particularly by FIGS. 5 and 6. The ribs 40, 42 and44 and the surface 46 coact to define a shallow recess 48 in the rearface of the flipper 36. The ends of the ribs 42 and 44 confront eachother but are spaced apart a short distance adjacent the opening 38 inthe flipper 36. The flipper 36 also has an elongated, generally-straightedge 47; and a concave surface 49 is provided at that end of that edgewhich is close to the surface 46. The free end of the rib 40 is spacedfrom the surface 46 by a distance which is close to, but not as long as,the overall length of the flipper 36. A pin-like protuberance 50 extendsrearwardly from the flipper 36 adjacent the said opposite end of thatflipper. That protuberance underlies the lower edge of the wall 20; andit can engage that lower edge of that wall, in either of the positionsof that flipper, to act as a stop.

The numeral 52 generally denotes a counterweight for the flipper 36; andthat counterweight has an opening 54 which can telescope over the pivot34 that is supported by, and that extends forwardly from, the wall 20.The counterweight 52 has a concave edge 56 which has a configurationthat is generally complementary to the convex face of theconcave-convexo rib 42 on the rear of the flipper 36. That counterweightalso has a convex end 58 which is generally complementary to the concaveface of the convex-concavo rib 40 on the rear of that flipper. Thatcounterweight is dimensioned to fit loosely within the recess 48 definedby the ribs 40, 42 and 44 and by the surface 46 at the rear face of thatflipper. An ear 60 on the counterweight 5 2 extends toward, butterminates short of, the surface 46 on the flipper 36; and that ear isdimensioned so it can engage, and be held by, the short rib 44 on thatflipper, as shown particularly by FIG. 3.

The numeral 62 denotes a second wall of the coinhandling device; andthat wall is disposed immediately adjacent the forward edge of thearcuate guiding surface 22, is disposed immediately adjacent the forwardedge of the horizontally-directed guiding surface 24, and is disposedimmediately adjacent the front edge of the boss 28. That wall will coactwith the wall 20, the arcuate guiding surface 22, and thehorizonatally-directed guiding surface 24 to define a passageway 64through which coins can move toward the flipper 36. The pivot 34 and thesecond downwardly-directed portion of the arcuate guiding surface 22coact to define a first chute 66; and that chute is arranged to receivecoins which are not intended to actuate the coin-handling device. Thepivot 34 and the boss 28 coact to define a second chute 68; and thatchute is arranged to receive coins which are intended to actuate thecoin-handling device. The chute 66 will direct coins to a cash box or toan escrow mechanism in advance of that cash box; and the chute 68 willdirect coins to an electrical or mechanical actuator for thecoinhandling device, and then to the cash box.

The opening 38 in the flipper 36 is large enough to enable that flipperto rotate freely about the pivot 34. Similarly, the opening 54 in thecounterweight 52 is large enough to enable that counterweight to rotatefreely about that pivot. As a result, coins that are introduced into thepassageway 64 and that are guided into engagement with the flipper 36 bythe guiding surfaces 22 and 24 can easily rotate that flipper and thatcounterweight about that pivot. v

The normal position of the flipper 36 is shown by FIGS. 13; and, in thatposition, the pin-like protuberance 50 underlies and engages the loweredge of the wall 20 to hold the concave-convexo rib 42 in position tointercept any coins that pass beyond the trailing edge of thehorizontally-directed portion of the arcuate guiding surface 22. Thatconcave convexo rib coacts with the short rib 44 to define a pocketwhich is presented to any coin which passes beyond that trailing edge ofthat horizontally-directed portion of that arcuate guiding surface; andthat pocket is intended to hold any such coins.

Whenever the flipper 36 is in its normal position, the ear 60 on thecounterweight 52 will engage and be held by the short rib 44. The centerof mass of the flipper 36 will be above and to the left of the pivot 34in FIG. 1; and, because that center of mass will be disposed to the leftof that pivot, that center of mass will bias that flipper for rotationin the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1 The center of mass of thecounterweight 52 will be disposed to the left of the pivot 34 in FIG. 1;and that center of mass will be disposed further to the left of thatpivot in FIG. 1 than will the center of mass of the flipper 36.Furthermore, whenever that flipper is in its normal position, the centerof mass of that counterweight will be considerably lower than the centerof mass of that flipper. As a result, the counterclockwise bias on thecounterweight 52 will add to the counterclockwise bias on the flpper 36.Also, and importantly, that counterweight will dispose the compositecenter of mass of itself and of that flipper appreciably below the levelof the center of mass of that flipper.

When a coin moves through the passageway 64 and passes beyond thetrailing edge of the horizontally-directed portion of the arcuateguiding surface 22, that coin will engage the concave faces of the ribs42 and 44 of the flipper 36; and that coin will be intercepted and heldby the pocket defined by those ribs. The center of mass of that coinwill be disposed to the right of the pivot 34 in FIG. 1, and hence thatcoin will cause the flipper 36 to rotate in the clockwise direction inFIG. 1. That flipper will rotate from its normal position in FIGS. 1-3to its flipped position in FIGS. 4 and 5; and, as that flipper sorotates, the coin will enter and move downwardly through the chute 66.That coin will pass to the cash box, not shown, of the coin-handlingdevice or to an escrow mechanism in advance of that cash box. Thegravitational forces on the flipper 36 and the counterweight 52 willresist the force applied to that flipper by the coin until after thecenter of mass of that flipper passes to the right of a vertical linepassing through the pivot 34 and until the center of mass of thatcounterweight passes to the right of that line. Thereafter, that flipperand that counterweight will urge that flipper to move into, and toremain in, the flipped position shown by FIGS. 4 and 5.

In that flipped position, the pin-like protuberance 50 on the flipper 36will underlie and engage the lower edge of the Wall 20, and will coactwith that lower edge to hold the generally-straight, elongated edge 47of that flipper generally horizontal. Also, the concave edge 56 of thecounterweight 52 'will abut and be held by the thickened free end of therib 42, as shown particularly by FIG. 5. At such time, the counterweight52 will be disposed within the recess 48, as shown by FIG. 5; and thatis desirable because it will keep that countenweight from obstructingthe movement of any further coins moving through the passageway 64.Also, at such time, the straight edge of the counterweight 52 will besubstantially flush with the generally-straight edge 47 of the flipper36, as shown by FIG. 5; and this means that a second coin which movesthrough the passageway 64 and passes beyond the trailing edge of thehorizontally-directed portion of the arcuate guiding surface 22 willroll onto, and be supported by, the straight portions of the flipper 36and of the counterweight 52. That coin will roll past the pivot 34, andthen 7 will engage and be intercepted by the concave portion 49 of thatflipper. That coin will apply a downwardlydirected force to the concaveportion 49; and that force will tend to rotate that flipper in thecounterclockwise direction in FIG. 4. The weight of that coin will begreat enough to rotate the flipper 36 and the counterweight *52 from thepositions shown by FIG. 4 to the positions shown by FIG. 1; and as thatflipper so rotates it will guide that second coin into the second chute68. That chute will guide that second coin toward a switch, a lever, orthe like, not shown; and that coin will engage that switch, lever, orthe like to actuate the coin-handling device.

The flipper 36 and the counterweight 52 will resist the rotation thereoffrom the flipped positions shown in FIG. 4 to the normal positions shownin FIG. 1, until after the center of mass of that flipper has moved tothe left of a vertical line through the pivot 34 and until the center ofmass of that counterweight has moved to the left of that line.Thereafter, that flipper and that counterweight will tend to urge thatflipper into the position shown by FIG. 1. After the flipper 36 hasreached the posiltion shown by FIG. 1, and further counterclockwiserotation of that flipper is prevented by the engagement of the pinlikeprotuberance 50 with the lower edge of the wall 20, the counterweight 52will continue to rotate in the counterclockwise direction until the ear60 on that counterweight again engages and is held by the short rib 44on that flipper. At such time, the flipper 36 and the counterweight 52will again be in the positions shown by FIG. 1; and that counterweightwill again be applying an important and substantial biasing force tothat flipper, which will tend to hold that flipper in that position.That biasing force is important; because it will keep persons, who applyheavy blows to the exterior of the vending or other machine in which thecoin-handling device is mounted, from causing the flipper 36 to shiftfrom its normal position over to its flipped position.

When the flipper .36 is in its flipped position, the counterweight 52 iswholly disposed within the recess 48 in the rear face of that flipperand the straight edge of that counterweight is flush with thegenerally-straight edge 47 of that flipper, as shown by FIG. 5. As aresult, whenever that flipper is in its flipped position, thecounterweight 52 can help that flipper perform its coin-supportingfunction. When the flipper 36 is in its normal position, thecounterweight 52 extends down part way out of the recess 48 in the rearface of that flipper, and thereby shifts the composite center of mass ofitself and of that o flipper and counterweight downwardly.

Absent the counterweight 52, the center of mass of the flipper 36 isdisplaced far enough above the level of the pivot 34 and is spaced sucha short distance to the left of that pivot that appropriately-appliedblows of sufficient magnitude can cause that flipper to shift from itsnormal position to its flipped position. However, the center of mass ofthe counterweight 52 is so much lower than that of the flipper 3 6 andis spaced so far to the left of the pivot 34 that the composite centerof mass of that counterweight and flipper is considerably lower, and isconsiderably farther to the left of the pivot 34, than the center ofmass of that flipper. The overall result is that the counter-weightedflipper 36 strongly resists all efforts to shift the flipper from itsnormal position to its flipped position by the application of heavyblows to the coinhandling device or to any vending or other machine inwhich that coin-handling device is used. Consequently, thatcounterweighted flipper can perform its functions of directing a firstcoin into the first chute 66 and of directing a second coin into thesecond chute 68, and yet can strongly resist all improper efforts tocause it to shift from its normal position to its flipped position.

Whereas the drawing and accompanying description have shown anddescribed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should beapparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made inthe form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

1. -In a coin-handling device wherein a flipper is movably disposed in apassageway and has a coin-supporting surface thereon which is intendedto receive a first acceptable coin whenever said flipper is in aninitial position and direct that first acceptable coin toward a firstchute and to move to a flipped position as it does so, and has adifferent coin-supporting surface thereon that is intended to receive asecond acceptable coin when said flipper is in said flipped position anddirect that second acceptable coin to a second chute and to move back toits initial position as it does so, the improvement which comprises:

a counterweight that is movably attached to and thus is movable with,but also is movable relative to, said flipper,

said counterweight acting whenever said flipper is in said initialposition to assume a biasing position relative to said flipper whereinit biases said flipper to remain in said initial position and wherein itlocates the composite center of mass of itself and of said flipper belowthe level of the center of mass of said flipper,

whereby said flipper will tend to remain in said initial positiondespite the application of heavy blows to said coin-handling device,

said counterweight acting whenever said flipper is in said flippedposition to assume a different biasing position relative to said flipperwherein it biases said flipper to remain in said flipped position,

said counterweight responding to gravity to move relative to saidflipper and to move into said different biasing position as said flippermoves from said initial position to said flipped position and alsoresponding to gravity to move relative to said flipper and to move intothe first said biasing position as said flipper moves from said flippedposition to said initial position.

2. In a coin-handling device wherein a flipper is movably disposed in apassageway and has a coin-supporting surface thereon which is intendedto receive a first acceptable coin whenever said flipper is in aninitial position and direct that first acceptable coin toward a firstchute and to move to a flipped position as it does so, and has adifferent coin-supporting surface thereon that is intended to receive asecond acceptable coin when said flipper is in said flipped position anddirect that second acceptable coin to a second chute and to move back toits initial position as it does so, the improvement which comprises:

a counterweight that is movably attached to and thus is movable with,but also is movable relative to, said flipper,

said counterweight acting whenever said flipper is in said initialposition to assume a biasing position relative to said flipper whereinit biases said flipper to remain in said initial position and wherein itlocates the composite center of mass of itself and of said flipper belowthe level of the center of mass of said flipper,

whereby said flipper will tend to remain in said initial positiondespite the application of heavy blows to said coin-handling device,

said counterweight acting whenever said flipper is in said flippedposition to assume a different biasing position relative to said flipperwherein it biases said flipper to remain in said flipped position,

said counterweight responding to gravity to move relative to saidflipper and to move into said different biasing position as said flippermoves from said initial position to said flipped position and alsoresponding to gravity to move relative to said flipper and to move intothe first said biasing position as said flipper moves from said flippedposition to said initial position, and

a pivot that rotatably supports said flipper for rotation relative tosaid coin-handling device and also rotatably supports said counterweightfor rotation relative to said flipper.

3. In a coin-handling device wherein a flipper is movably disposed in apassageway and has a coin-supporting surface thereon which is intendedto receive a first acceptable coin whenever said flipper is in aninitial position and direct that first acceptable coin toward a firstchute and to move to a flipped position as it does so, and has adifferent coin-supporting surface thereon that is intended to receive asecond acceptable coin when said flipper is in said flipped position anddirect that second acceptable coin to a second chute and to move back toits initial position as it does so, the improvement which comprises:

a counterweight that is movably attached to and thus is movable with,but also is movable relative to, said flipper,

said counterweight acting whenever said flipper is in said initialposition to assume a biasing position rela tive to said flipper whereinit biases said flipper to remain in said initial position and wherein itlocates the composite center of mass of itself and of said flipper belowthe level of the center of mass of said flipper,

whereby said flipper will tend to remain in said initial positiondespite the application of heavy blows to said coin-handling device,

said counterweight acting whenever said flipper is in said flippedposition to assume a different biasing position relative to said flipperwherein it biases said flipper to remain in said flipped position,

said counterweight responding to gravity to move relative to saidflipper and to move into said different biasing position as said flippermoves from said initial position to said flipped position and alsoresponding to gravity to move relative to said flipper and to move intothe first said biasing position as said flipper moves from said flippedposition to said initial position,

said flipper having a recess therein and said counterweight beingdisposable at least in part within said recess.

4. In a coin-handling device wherein a flipper is movably disposed in apassageway and has a Coin-supporting surface thereon which is intendedto receive a first acceptable coin whenever said flipper is in aninitial position and direct that first acceptable coin toward a firstchute and to move to a flipped position as it does so. and has adifferent coin-supporting surface thereon that is intended to receive asecond acceptable coin when said flipper is in said flipped position anddirect that second acceptable coin to a second chute and to move back toits initial position as it does so, the improvement which comprises:

a counterweight that is movably attached to and thus is movable with,but also is movable relative to, said flipper,

said counterweight acting whenever said flipper is in said initialposition to assume a biasing position relative to said flipper whereinit biases said flipper to remain in said initial position and wherein itlocates the composite center of mass of itself and of said flipper belowthe level of the center of mass of said flipper,

whereby said flipper will tend to remain in said initial positiondespite the application of heavy blows to said coin-handling device,

said counterweight acting whenever said flipper is in said flippedposition to assume a different biasing position relative to said flipperwherein it biases said flipper to remain in said flipped position,

said counterweight responding to gravity to move relative to saidflipper and to move into said different biasing position as said flippermoves from said initial position to said flipped position and alsoresponding to gravity to move relative to said flipper and to move intothe first said biasing position as said flipper moves from said flippedposition to said initial position.

said flipper having a recess therein and said counterweight beingdisposable at least in part within said recess,

said counterweight being biased for movement into said r cess wheneversaid flipper is in said flipped position,

said counterweight being biased for movement out of said recess wheneversaid counterweight is in said initial position.

5. In a coin-handling device wherein a flipper is movably disposed in apassageway and has a coin-supporting surface thereon which is intendedto receive a first acceptable coin whenever said flipper is in aninitial position and direct that first acceptable coin toward a firstchute and to move to a flipped position as it does so, and has adifferent coin-supported surface thereon that is intended to receive asecond acceptable coin when said flipper is in said flipped position anddirect that second acceptable coin to a second chute and to move back toits initial position as it does so, the improvement which comprises:

a counterweight that is movably attached to and thus is movable with,but also is movable relative to, said flipper,

said counterweight acting whenever said flipper is in said initialposition to assume a biasing position relative to said flipper whereinit biases said flipper to remain in said initial position and wherein it10- cates the composite center of mass of itself and of said flipperbelow the level of the center of mass of said flipper,

whereby said flipper will tend to remain in said initial positiondespite the application of heavy blows to said coin-handling device,

said counterweight acting whenever said flipper is in said flippedposition to assume a different biasing position relative to said flipperwherein it biases said flipper to remain in said flipped position,

said counterweight responding to gravity to move relative to saidflipper and to move into said different biasing position as said flippermoves from said initial position to said flipped position and alsoresponding to gravity to move relative to said flipper and to move intothe first said biasing position as said flipper moves from said flippedposition to said initial position,

said flipper having ribs at one face thereof which define a recess intowhich a substantial portion of said counterweight can extend.

6. In a coin-handling device wherein a flipper is movably disposed in apassageway and has a coin-supporting surface thereon which is intendedto receive a first acceptable coin whenever said flipper is in aninitial position and direct that first acceptable coin toward a firstchute and to move to a flipped position as it does so, and has adifferent coin-supporting surface thereon that is intended to receive asecond acceptable coin when said flipper is in said flipped position anddirect that second acceptable coin to a second chute and to move back toits initial position as it does so, the improvement which comprises:

a counterweight that is movably attached to and thus is movable with,but also is movable relative to, said flipper,

said counterweight acting whenever said flipper is in said initialposition to assume a biasing position relative to said flipper whereinit biases said flipper to remain in said initial position and wherein it10- cates the composite center of mass of itself and of said flipperbelow the level of the center of mass of said flipper,

whereby said flipper will tend to remain in said initial positiondespite the application of heavy 'blows to said coin-handling device,

said counterweight acting whenever said flipper is in said flippedposition to assume a different biasing position relative to said flipperwherein it biases said flipper to remain in said flipped position,

said counterweight responding to gravity to move relative to saidflipper and to move into said different biasing position as said flippermoves from said initial position so said flipped position and alsoresponding to gravity to move relative to said flipper and to move intothe first said biasing position as said flipper moves from said flippedposition to said initial position,

said flipper having a recess therein and said counterweight beingdisposable at least in part within said recess,

said counterweight being biased for movement into said recess wheneversaid flipper is in said flipped position,

said counterweight having a portion thereof which can underlie andsupport a coin whenever said flipper is in said flipped position.

7. In a coin-handling device wherein a flipper is movably disposed in apassageway and has a coin-supporting surface thereon which is intendedto receive a first acceptable coin whenever said flipper is in aninitial position and direct that first acceptable coin toward a firstchute and to move to a flipped position as it does so, and has adifferent coin-supporting surface thereon that is intended to receive asecond acceptable coin when said flipper is in said flipped position anddirect that second acceptable coin to a second chute and to move back toits initial position as it does so, the improvement which comprises:

a counterweight that is movably attached to and thus is movable with,but also is movable relative to, said flipper,

said counterweight acting whenever said flipper is in said initialposition to assume a biasing position relative to said flipper whereinit biases said flipper to remain in said initial position and wherein itlocates the composite center of mass of itself and of said flipper belowthe level of the center of mass of said flipper,

whereby said flipper will tend to remain in said initial positiondespite the application of heavy blows to said coin-handling device,

said counterweight acting whenever said flipper is in said flippedposition to assume a different biasing position relative to said flipperwherein it biases said flipper to remain in said flipped position,

said counterweight respondingto gravity to move relative to said flipperand to move into said different biasing position as said flipper movesfrom said initial position to said flipped position and also respondingto gravity to move relative to said flipper and to move into the firstsaid biasing position as said flipper moves from said flipped positionto said initial position,

interacting surfaces on said flipper and on a stationary part of saidcoin-handling device which limit the movement of said flipper as saidflipper moves back to said initial position, and

further interacting surfaces on said flipper and on said counterweightwhich limit the movement of said counterweight as said flipper movesback to said initial position,

said further interacting surfaces permitting movement of saidcounterweight relative to said flipper after the first said interactingsurfaces limit the movement 10 of said flipper as said flipper movesback to said initial position.

8. In a coin-handling device wherein a flipper is movably disposed in apassageway and has a coin-supporting surface thereon which is intendedto receive a first acceptable coin whenever said flipper is in aninitial position and direct that first acceptable coin toward a firstchute and to move to a flipped position as it does so, and has adifferent coin-supporting surface thereon that is intended to receive asecond acceptable coin when said flipper is in said flipped position anddirect that second acceptable coin to a second chute and to move back toits initial position as it does so, the improvement which comprises:

a counterweight that is movably attached to and thus is movable with,but also is movable relative to, said fl pp said counterweight actingwhenever said flipper is in said initial position to assume a biasingposition relative to said flipper wherein it biases said flipper toremain in said initial position and wherein it locates the compositecenter of mass of itself and of said flipper below the level of thecenter of mass of said fl pp whereby said flipper will tend to remain insaid initial position despite the application of heavy blows to saidcoin-handling device,

said counterweight acting whenever said flipper is in said flippedposition to assume a dilferent biasing position relative to said flipperwherein it biases said flipper to remain in said flipped position,

said counterweight responding to gravity to move relative to saidflipper and to move into said different biasing position as said flippermoves from said initial position to said flipped position and alsoresponding to gravity to move relative to said flipper and to move intothe first said biasing position as said flipper moves from said flippedposition to said initial position,

interacting surfaces on said flipper and on a stationary part of saidcoin-handling device which limit the movement of said flipper as saidflipper moves back to said initial position, and

further interacting surfaces on said flipper and on said counterweightwhich limit the movement of said counterweight as said flipper movesback to said initial position,

said further interacting surfaces permitting movement of saidcounterweight relative to said flipper after the first said interactingsurfaces limit the movement of said flipper as said flipper moves backto said initial position,

the first said interacting surfaces being a protuberance on said flipperand an edge of a wall of said coinhandling device,

said further interacting surfaces being an ear on said counterweight anda rib on said flipper.

9. In a coin-handling device wherein a flipper is movably disposed in apassageway and has a coin-supporting surface thereon which is intendedto receive a first acceptable coin whenever said flipper is in aninitial position and direct that first acceptable coin toward a firstchute and to move to a flipped position as it does so, and has adifferent coin-supporting surface thereon that is intended to receive asecond acceptable coin when said flipper is in said flipped position anddirect that second acceptable coin to a second chute and to move back toits initial position as it does so, the improvement which comprises:

a counterweight that is movably attached to and thus is movable with,but also is movable relative to, said flipper,

said counterweight acting whenever said flipper is in said initialposition to assume a biasing position relative to said flipper whereinit biases said flipper to re main in said initial position and whereinit locates the composite center of mass of itself and of said flipperbelow the level of the center of mass of said flipper,

whereby said flipper will tend to remain in said initial positiondespite the application of heavy blows to said coin-handling device,

said counterweight acting whenever said flipper is in said flippedposition to assume a different biasing position relative to said flipperwherein it biases said flipper to remain in said flipped position,

said counterweight responding to gravity to move relative to saidflipper and to move into said different biasing position as said flippermoves from said initial position to said flipped positon and alsorespending to gravity to move relative to said flipper and to move intothe first said biasing position as said flipper moves from said flippedposition to said initial position,

said counterweight having a coin-supporting surface thereon, and

said coin-supporting surface on said counterweight and the first saidcoin-supporting surface on said flipper being adjacent each other andcoacting to support the same coin whenever said flipper is in saidinitial position.

10. In a coin-handling device wherein a flipper is movably disposed in apassageway and has a coin-supporting surface thereon which is intendedto receive a first acceptable coin whenever said flipper is in aninitial position and direct that first acceptable coin toward a firstchute and to move to a flipped position as it does so, and has adifferent coin-supporting surface thereon that is intended to receive asecond acceptable coin when said flipper is in said flipped position anddirect that second acceptable coin to a second chute and to move back toits initial position as it does so, the improvement which comprises:

a counterweight that is movably attached to and thus is movable with,but also is movable relative to, said flipper,

said counterweight acting whenever said flipper is in said initialposition to assume a biasing position relative to said flipper whereinit biases said flipper to remain in said initial position and wherein itlocates the composite center of mass of itself and of said flipper belowthe level of the center of mass of said flipper,

whereby said flipper will tend to remain in said initial positiondespite the application of heavy blows to said coin-handling device,

said counterweight acting whenever said flipper is in said flippedposition to assume a different biasing position relative to said flipperwherein it biases said flipper to remain in said flipped position,

said counterweight responding to gravity to move relative to saidflipper and to move into said different biasing position as said flippermoves from said initial position to said flipped position and alsorespending to gravity to move relative to said flipper and to move intothe first said biasing position as said flipper moves from said flippedposition to said initial position,

said flipper having a recess therein, and

said counterweight extending into said recess to avoid obstructingfurther coins Whenever said flipper is in said initial position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, PrimaryExaminer.

